Boat handling apparatus



March 5, 1940. o. CARLSON BOAT HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, lQSS Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE Otto Carlson, Astoria, Oreg.

Application October 29, 1938, Serial No. 237,709

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a boat handling apparatus and has relation more particularly to an apparatus for lowering a boat, such as a life boat, from a ship or raising the same.

The invention has for an object to provide an apparatus of this kind including a supporting rod adapted to be attached in a well known manner for raising or lowering together with hook members carried by the boat for engagement with such rod and wherein the hook members are so constructed and arranged to automaticallydisengage the rod when the boat properly rests upon the water, together with means for manually releasing said hook members when the automatic operation is impaired or prevented.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved boat handling apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating a boat handling apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and'in applied position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detailed sectional View taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 and on an enlarged scale:

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1 and on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, B denotes, a boat, such as a life boat, having a keel I. The lowering or raising unit embodies an elongated rod 2 of desired length and of such cross sectional configuration as may be preferred. This rod 2 has secured to its end portions, as at 3, the sheaves 4 the pulleys comprised therein being engaged by the tackle ropes 5. These ropes 5 are operatively attached to the blocks upon the davits as is well known.

Arranged within the boat B fore and aft thereof are the stanchions or uprights 6 which may be constructed as desired and held to the keel l or otherwise as preferred.

The upper portion of each of the uprights 6 is formed to provide the upstanding and transversely spaced arms 1, said arms, as particularly 5 I illustrated in the accompanying drawing, being of considerable width.

These arms I are spaced apart in a direc-- tion transversely of the boat B and the upper portions of the arms 1 rotatably support the 10 shafts 8 bridging the space therebetween and said shafts 8 outwardly of the arms I carry the hook members 9.

The shafts 8 of each pair of arms 1 are spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the boat B and 15 are positioned at the upper portions of the arms 1. The lower portions of the arms 'I at points substantially midway between the hook members 9 are provided with the upstanding stationary hook members Ill;

The shafts 8 between the arms I are provided with the drums H around which wind the opposite end portions of a flexible member l2. This winding of the end portions of the member I2 upon the drums H is such that the shafts 8 will. 25 be caused to rotate in unison and in the same direction.

The boat B is to be lowered in the usual manner and if the boat strikes the water at a level, the rod 2 will move downwardly and release the 30 engagement between the rod 2 and the hook members 9. The extent of downward movement of the rod 2 is limited by the stationary hook members.

Upon release of the engagement between the 3 rod 2 and the hook members 9, the weighted members I4, carried one by each end portion of a drum II, will automatically swing downwardly and throw the hook members 9 upwardly whereby the rod 2 will be disengaged from the 40 hooks.

However, should either the bow or stern of the boat first engage the water and it is desired to release the boat, an occupant of the boat B pulls the line l5 which, as herein dis- 45 closed, extends along and closely adjacent to the keel l and about the guide pulleys l6 up to and. secured to the weighted members l4. These guide pulleys IE will be positioned as preferred but, as herein disclosed, are secured to the keel I.

In practice it has been found that by having each of the arms l carry a pair of hook members spaced in a direction lengthwise of the boat, the lowering or raising of the boat may be accomplished to the best advantage as the liability of 55 the boat B independently rocking with respect to the rod 2 is avoided.

While in Figure 2 of the drawing I show the use of two rods 2, it is to be understood that if desired only a single rod need be employed.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a boat handling apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason, of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and. forma-- drums, said windin s upon the drums being so arranged whereby the flexible member provides means to cause the shafts to rotate in unison and in the same direction, and weighted members carried by the shafts so mounted and arranged to provide means for automatically rocking the ber having its end portions Winding upon said drums, said windings upon the drums being so arranged whereby the flexible member provides means to cause the shafts to rotate. in unison provide means for automatically rocking the shafts in a direction to swing the hook members upwardly, and an upwardly facing hook member carried by the stanchion at a point below and between the shafts.

OTTO CARLSON. 

